Few plumbing problems cause more nightmares for homeowners than broken sewer lines. At best, a damaged pipe can disrupt water flow and back up drains throughout the house. At worst, it can inflict major property damage and spill enough raw waste to transform your home into a biohazard.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Underground sewer lines rarely collapse out of the blue, and understanding why they fail can help you take action to avoid a worst-case scenario.
What Causes Sewer Lines To Break Down?
Robustly built and buried deep underground, sewer lines almost seem like permanent fixtures beneath your property. Sadly, they’re not. While modern pipes are made to last half a century or more, a variety of factors can chip away at your sewer line and ultimately cut its lifespan short. These include:
Wear and Tear on Aging Pipes
Even the strongest, most durable materials eventually break down given enough time, and sewer lines are no exception. Cast iron rusts and corrodes, especially in the hard water and acidic soil of Central Florida. Vitrified clay gradually becomes brittle, making it prone to cracking at the slightest movement. Even PVC degrades and stiffens under extreme temperatures and UV radiation.
The bottom line? When it comes to sewer pipes, age is more than just a number. Older lines are more vulnerable to stress and more likely to fail unexpectedly, so treat them with caution. If you’re having reoccurring problems, such as minor leaks or frequent blockages, you might be wise to consider a full sewer line replacement.
Improper Waste Disposal
Your sewer line collects and carries away all the wastewater your home produces — along with everything else you send down the drain. Unfortunately, flushing or rinsing the wrong things can dramatically increase the risk of clogs and put unnecessary stress on your plumbing.
Among the most common and harmful substances are:
- Fats, oils and grease
- Hard and fibrous food scraps
- Used coffee grounds
- Wipes and paper products
- Harsh cleaners and chemicals
Hidden Tree Root Intrusions
Tree roots are incredibly adept at sniffing out scant traces of moisture and nutrients in the soil, so a sewer line may as well be a subterranean all-you-can-eat buffet. While roots typically can’t break into fully intact pipes, they’re surprisingly strong, patient and persistent. They need only the smallest break or weak spot to begin penetrating, creating stubborn blockages and opening up more cracks and holes in your sewage line.
And there’s even more bad news for local residents. The Lakeland area is home to a wide variety of trees with particularly aggressive and invasive root systems, including oaks, maples, pines, sycamores and willows. Consequently, tree root intrusion is one of the top culprits in any sewer line obstruction or collapse.
Shifting Sand and Saturated Soil
How solid is the ground beneath your feet? It may sound like a silly question, but the answer can have serious ramifications for your plumbing system. The sandy soil here in Central Florida is inherently unstable, which means it shifts more easily and offers less support to water and sewage pipes. It’s also more susceptible to erosion — a serious issue in a place known for heavy rainfall and severe weather.
When you add it all up, you get a classic recipe for trouble. The more the soil shifts, settles and erodes, the more pressure it puts on the pipes and connections in your sewer line. Eventually, something is bound to give.
Three Keys to Preventing Sewage Line Failures
The best way to deal with a broken sewer line is to stop it from failing in the first place. Of course, considering it’s usually buried under several feet of soil, that’s easier said than done.
Still, that doesn’t mean it’s out of your control. Let’s take a look at three commonsense steps you can take to protect your pipes and prevent your sewer line from making a mess of your property.
Get Your Pipes Professionally Inspected
Accessing your sewer line from the outside may be impractical, but checking it from the inside is surprisingly easy with the right tools. Using a small camera on a flexible cable, professional plumbers can inspect every inch of your sewer line for hidden cracks, corrosion, obstructions and other issues. It’s called a sewer scope inspection, and having one done every few years can save you a ton of trouble.
Schedule Regular Hydro Jet Cleanings
No matter how careful you are, your drains and sewer pipes are bound to collect grease, scale, hair and other gunk over time. Don’t let this debris build up and form blockages that could damage your plumbing. Instead, ask your local plumber how annual hydro jet cleanings can keep things flowing smoothly and extend the service life of your sewage line.
Defend Against Tree Root Intrusions
Tree root intrusion is one of the most common sewer line issues, but it’s also among the most preventable. The best solution is to remove or relocate any trees growing within 10 feet of your pipes. If that’s not an option, consider using chemical root inhibitors or installing physical barriers to shield your sewage line from nearby vegetation.
Let Lakeland Benjamin Franklin Fix Your Sewer Line Fast
A busted sewer pipe is a full-fledged emergency that can endanger both your property and your health. You need a local plumber you can count on to provide expert sewer line repair and replacement services around the clock. Luckily, Lakeland Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is just a phone call away.
We don’t just pride ourselves on prompt and punctual service — we guarantee it. Our highly trained professionals respond 24/7 to plumbing emergencies throughout Lakeland, Mulberry, Westgate and beyond, so call today and make every minute count. If there’s any delay, it’s YOU we pay!
